Induction of anaesthesia in children.

Induction of anaesthesia in children in the age group 2-6 years is a special challenge. In order to minimise emotional and physical stress during induction of anaesthesia by gas inhalation, a toy telephone has been modified to deliver induction gases to the mouthpiece while taped nursery stories can be heard from a small speaker placed in the earpiece. The child holds the hand set and listens to a suitable story, while appropriate concentrations of inhalation agents are adjusted inconspicuously.